
Class ^-5 7/ 

Book J) -SB 3.5 

SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT 



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THE 



DICKSON LETTERS 



CONPILED AND EDITED 



DY 



James 0. Carr, Esq. 



OF 






THE VILMINQTON BAR 



(FORnERLY OF DUFLIN COUNTY.) 



/,/-y' 



RALEIGH 
EDWARDS & BROUGHTON, PRINTERS 

1 90 I 




D%oV 



TO MY MOTHER, 

MARY SUSAN DICKSON CARR, 

A GRANDNIECE OF WILLIAM DICKSON, AUTHOR OF 

THE DICKSON LETTERS, 

THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 



INTRODUCTION, 



The writer will make no apology for offering this little 
volume to the public, except so far as it is his duty to 
apologize for a personal interest he feels in the affairs of 
his own kinsfolk, and a desire he has to record something 
of their history. He is certainly not moved by the modern 
craze to expose to public view the private letters of one 
whose control over them has long since ceased ; but is 
actuated by the hope that the public may find in these let- 
ters something of historical interest, which, unless recorded 
while opportunity offers itself, may be irretrievably lost. 

If we had written all the history we have made, we 
would be rich in legends and stories, which would some- 
where touch the life of every North Carolinian, and make 
him feel proud of his State and its history ; but our 
modesty in making known the achievements of our own 
people has contributed no little to our lack of interest in 
matters of literary and historical importance. 

We may assume, however, from present indications, that 
the public will receive with commendation any family his- 
tory or reminiscences which will throw even a ray of light 
on our State history ; and it is on this assumption that the 
author makes public the Dickson Letters with a brief 
sketch of the family record, so far as he has been able to 
obtain it. 



THE DIC[\50N FAMILY. 



Simon Dickson was born in England about the year 
1607, or 1608. He was a stern English Puritan, an ardent 
adherent of Oliver Cromwell, and served faithfully as an 
officer in the Parliamentary army during that fierce strug- 
gle between Parliament and the King ; his official rank, 
however, is unknown to us. After the Revolution was 
over, as a reward for his services, he received a grant of 
four hundred acres of valuable land within two miles of 
Dromore, in the county of Down, Ireland. Here he settled 
and had a numerous offspring, but the exact number of 
his children is unknown. At the restoration of Charles 
II, the land grants of the Cromwellian administration 
were annulled, and Simon Dickson became a tenant on the 
same land he had previously owned. 

"Simon Dickson was the father of Joseph the first, 
who was the father of Joseph the second, who was the 
father of Michael, who was the father of John." Joseph 
the second lived to be ninety-four years old, and Michael 
passed his eighty-fourth year. 

John Dickson was born in Ireland about the year 1704 
and died in Duplin County, North Carolina, on the 25th 
day of December, 1774, just at the beginning of the 
American Revolution. He emigrated from Ireland to the 
Slate of Pennsylvania in the year 1738 and settled in 
Chester County, where he resided several years and had 
two sons born to him, Michael and William. He then 
moved to Maryland, where he remained only a short 
while, and leaving there he came to Duplin County 
between 1740 and 1745. Upon his death in Duplin, in 



6 THE DICKSON FAMILY. 

1774, he left surviving him seven sons and one daughter, 
whose names are given in order of their age, as follows: 
Michael, William, Robert, Joseph, Alexander, Edward, 
James and Mary. 

Michael Dickson moved to Georgia just before or 
after the Revolution, where it is said he has many descend- 
ants, though no definite information about them can be 
obtained. 

WILLIAM DICKSON. 

William Dickson, the second son of John Dickson, 
and the writer of the Dickson Letters, was born in Penn- 
sylvania about the year 1740, and came to Duplin County 
with his father when quite a small boy. Upon arriving at 
manhood he took an active part in public affairs and dur- 
ing Revolutionary times he was the foremost man in his 
county as a leader in civil affairs, while his compatriot, 
Colonel James Kenan, was at the head of all military oper- 
ations. It is probable, almost certain, that he entered the 
army as a regular militiaman under Colonel Kenan, and 
served through the entire war. His educational advan- 
tages were very limited, and a family tradition tells us that 
his school days were comprised within a space of three 
months. Notwithstanding this, he was a man of broad 
ideas, mature judgment, and profound wisdom ; and he 
discussed political affairs with an intuitive knowledge and 
foresight that was remarkable. His comments on the 
American form of government (then an untried theory) in 
his letter of 1790, his reasons why North Carolina adopted 
the federal constitution, his prediction that "the southern 
states will not receive equal benefit in the government with 
the northern states" and that the North would eventually 
demand the emancipation of slavery (and this written 
seventy years before the civil war) — all these are ideas 
worthy of a statesman and found conception in no ordi- 
nary mind. 



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v/ 



THK DICKSON FAMILY. 7 

He was a man of wonderful native ability ; but was 
modest to a fault, and seldom in his letters to his cousin in 
Ireland does he even refer to the services he rendered in 
the Revolution. Tradition has it that he was for forty- 
four successive years clerk of the court in Duplin County ; 
but the writer has not examined the records for a verifica- 
tion of this tradition further than to find that he served in 
this capacity for quite a long time. He was a delegate to 
the first provincial congress, held at Newbern on the 25th 
of August, 1774 ; to the second provincial congress, held 
at Halifax on the 3rd of April, 1775 ; to the third provin- 
cial congress, held at Hillsboro on the 21st day of August, 
1775 ; and to the fourth provincial congress, held at 
Halifax on the 12th of November, 1776, which framed 
North Carolina's first constitution. He also represented 
Duplin in the House of Commons in 1795. It is told of 
him that when Cornwallis' army marched through the 
county on its way from Wilmington to Virginia he con- 
cealed the records of the county in an iron pot in Goshen 
Swamp to prevent their destruction by the British. He 
died in 1820, an honored and highly respected citizen. 

Robert Dickson, the third son of John Dickson, 
moved to Virginia at the close of the Revolution, but 
returned to Duplin about 1784, where he made his perma- 
nent home. He has many descendants in North Carolina, 
chiefly in Cumberland County. He was a justice of the 
peace for Duplin for a number of years, and served as a 
member of the House of Commons in 1777, 1784, 1785, 
1786, 1787 and 1788. 

Joseph Dickson, the fourth son of John Dickson, 
emigrated west about the close of the Revolution ; but, 
being dissatisfied, soon returned to his native county, where 
he reared a large family consisting of one daughter, Anne, 
and eight sons. He served in the capacity of Register of 
Deeds and also as county surveyor of Duplin, and repre- 



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8 THE DICKSON FAMILY. 

sented his county in the House of Commons in 1780 and 
1797. Anne Dickson, his oldest child and only daughter, 
married James Pearsall, many of the descendants of whom 
now reside in Duplin and adjoining counties. Later in life 
Joseph took his entire family of eight grown sons, together 
with other Dickson relatives, and moved to Tennessee in 
quest of large landed estates, a desire for which had 
become common in the family. Dickson County, Tennes- 
see, takes its name from a member of the Duplin family. 

Alexander Dickson, the fifth son of John Dickson, 
following the dreams of his brothers, and searching for 
fortunes elsewhere, emigrated to Virginia about 1781, and 
afterwards to Maryland ; but returned in 1784 and took up 
his permanent abode in Duplin, where he accumulated 
considerable wealth. He died leaving no family, and 
bequeathed his property, as an educational fund, to the 
poor children of his county. This fund has commonly 
been known as the " Dickson Charity Fund; " but, through 
years of mismanagement and ill-directed investments, it has 
almost come to naught, and like most bequests of this kind 
has not served the high purpose for which it was intended. 

Edward Dickson, the sixth son of John Dickson, had 
no ambition for political honors, but was one of the fore- 
most and most prosperous citizens of Duplin. He married 
and reared a family in Duplin, and there was no man more 
highly esteemed and respected. His oldest daughter, 
Rebecca, married Rev. Jacob Williams, by whom she had 
a daughter, Ann, who married Dr. Stephen Graham, a 
noted physician of Duplin County in his day. Sarah 
Rebecca Graham, daughter of Dr. Stephen Graham and 
Ann Graham, and sister of the late Stephen Graham of 
Kenansville, married Owen R. Kenan, and, as a result of 
this union, left the following children: Thomas S. Kenan, 
of Raleigh; William R. Kenan, of Wilmington; James G. 
Kenan, and Annie Dickson Kenan, of Kenansville. 



i 



THE DICKSON FAMILY. 9 

James Dickson, the youngest son of John Dickson, 
spent his entire life in Duplin County. He married twice 
and had fifteen children, eight boys and seven girls. We 
are told that as a reward for military services he received 
large grants of land in Tennessee from the United States 
Government; but we have no information as to what services 
he performed, and William Dickson in one of his letters 
says none of the brothei^ except himself actually took up 
arms and joined the army. He may have rendered some 
services in the war of 1812, but we have no direct infor- 
mation on this point. However, James Dickson owned 
large estates in Tennessee and his three oldest sons, Edward, 
William and Alexander, emigrated there in the early part 
of this century and took possession of them. Robert Dick- 
son, the youngest son of James, married Mary Catherine 
Sloan, and was the grandfather of the writer. 

Mary Dickson, the only daughter and youngest child 
of John Dickson, married William McGowan at the age of 
eighteen, and she has many descendants in this and other 
states. She was the great-grandmother of Benjamin F. 
Hall of Wilmington. 

THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

The first three letters, which are made a part of this pub- 
lication, and the fourth, which is an extract taken from an 
old copy of the Fayetteville Examiner^ were written b}^ 
William Dickson to his cousin. Rev. Robert Dickson, a 
Presbyterian clergyman, at Narrow Water, near Newry, 
Ireland; and are printed for their historical and literary 
value. The fifth letter was written by William Dickson to 
Linda Dickson, his niece, who was at the time visiting her 
older sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, of Charleston, S. C, 
and is printed to show the character of the writer in his 
domestic relations. 

The originals of the first three letters are still in exist- 



,4 



lO THE DICKSON FAMILY. 

ence and bear on them the marks of having served their 
mission as a messenger of good news to a far-away cousin. 
Years after they were written, two young men, the sons of 
Rev. Robt. Dickson, we think, came to this country, and in 
order to identify themselves brought the original letters 
with them. One of the young men was drowned, the other 
returned to Ireland, and the letters fell into the hands of 
John Dickson, of Cumberland County; and the lamily of 
the late Robert K. Bryan, Sr., of Scott's Hill, N. C, and 
the Evans family of Cumberland County, who are descend- 
ants of the Dicksons, have carefully preserved them. 

The fourth letter, or rather extract, is taken from an old 
copy of the Fayetteville Examiner^ and the original cannot 
be produced, but there is conclusive evidence that it is 
genuine. 

John Dickson, the father of William Dickson, had a 
brother by the name of William Dickson, who moved from 
Pennsylvania and settled in the western part of the State, 
where he died on the first day of January, 1775. We have 
no record of his family, but it is reasonable to suppose that 
he was the father of General Joseph Dickson, of Lincoln 
County, who rendered valuable service in the Revolution, 
and was Congressman about 1800. 

In editing these letters the writer has preserved intact the 
wording and phraseology of the original manuscript, but 
has made some slight changes in regard to capitalization, 
spelling and punctuation, and this has been done only for 
the purpose of making them conform to our modern usage 
in this respect, and where the change would in no way 
impair the sense or expression of the originals. 

If the reader shall be interested in them, or if by their 
publication one historical fact, even though local in its 
character, should be recorded that would otherwise be lost, 
then the writer would feel amply repaid for his efforts in 
bringing them to the attention of the public. 



TME DICK50N LETTERS. 



FIRST LETTER. 

Dear Cousin Robert: — About two months ago I 
received a very long letter from you, dated in Sept., 1783, 
which afforded me much pleasure and satisfaction in the 
perusal, as it contained a historical account of the political 
proceedings of the Irish Nation during the continuance of 
the late American war. I much admire and applaud the 
determined resolution of the volunteers in claiming a 
redress of public national grievances, &c. I understand 
by that letter that you wrote me in May, 1783, by the ship 
Congress, Capt. Chenen, bound for Philadelphia ; that let- 
ter never came to hand. I received another letter from 
you dated 19th of July, 1784, which was handed to me by 
my Cousin, Joseph Dickson, from Dromore, who arrived 
in Virginia the 2nd of October last and came to my house 
about the 20th of the same month with his wife and little 
son, all in good health. He and his family remain with 
me yet. He is not provided with any settlement or place 
of employment. Since his arrival here he has visited his 
friends, that is, my brothers and sister, and he has been to 
Bladen County, about 60 miles from here, to inquire after 
his Uncle Maturine Colvill's affairs ; he finds that estate 
is much wasted and embezzled ; there are only the lands 
and some part of the slaves found remaining, which are 
now in the possession of Mr. Patrick Neil, who came over 
last year in quest of said estate. Joseph is now gone to 
Wilmington to see Archibald Maclaine, Esq., who is 
attorney for some of Colvill's heirs, and as soon as he can 
be informed concerning his uncle's affairs he will write to 



fx 



12 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

his father on that subject. Your letter by Colvill Dickson 
has never come to hand. 

Your friend and relation Mr. Josie, who came over with 
Joseph, stayed in Virginia ; he had the offer of a good 
school and did not come to Carolina. In both your letters 
which I have received you requested I would give you 
some account of the present circumstances and situation 
of our families since the war, also the present state of our 
civil government, also concerning religious matters and 
how ministers were supported in this country, and also 
concerning the price of plantations and whether any new 
settlements were about to be made on the Western waters 
over the Appalachian Mountains, &c. Dear Cousin, in 
answer to those requests I wrote you a very long letter 
about a month ago" which was a few days after the arrival 
of my Cousin Joseph. That letter I sent at random by a 
person going to Virginia, where, I was informed there was 
a vessel which would sail in about three weeks for Belfsot. 
That letter is a very long one, but written in such haste 
that it will appear a perfect scrawl. The person who car- 
ried it, waiting with impatience while I wrote. I had not 
the opportunity to review or correct it. However, if it 
ever comes to hand I make no doubt but you'll be able to 
digest its contents. In it you'll find I have attempted to 
give you some account of our civil government and mode 
of leorislation, &c. Also of the different sects of relio:ious 
people most prevalent amongst us in the lower counties 
of this State, and that the Presbyterian settlements are 
chiefly with upper counties of the State, where there are 
many large and able congregations and some of them are 
frequently vacant. 

I also gave you my opinion that a good sound preacher 
of a good moral character scarcely ever wanted good encour- 
agement. I also wrote you concerning the price of lands 
and plantations in this part of the country. I also in that 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 1 3 

letter began a historical account of the war as far as con- 
cerned us and our families in the vicinity of Carolina 
which I have found from the commencement of the war 
down to the battle of Guilford in North Carolina, which 
happened in the spring of the year 1781, from which Lord 
Cornwallis returned to Wilmington to recruit and repair 
his damages, &c. , before he could proceed to Virginia ; and 
General Greene marched his army to South Carolina to dis- 
pute the dominion of that State with Lord Rawdon who 
then commanded the garrison at Cambden: then I con- 
cluded my last letter in which you'll find none of our 
families concerned except my oldest brother IMichael, who 
had his share both of good and ill fortune. I can orive 
you no account of his present situation. Tlie last account I 
had from him he was about moving his family to Georgia. 
Having thus brought the war to our door, I shall now give 
you some account of its operation here and how much it 
affects us and our families. About the 25th of January, 
1 78 1, Maj. Craig arrived in the Cape Fear River, landed 
at Wilmington with about 450 veteran troops with which 
he garrisoned the town and detached a party up the North 
East River to the great bridge about 12 miles above the 
town, and then demolished the bridge, seized and burned 
some public store ships and their contents whicli had been 
run up the river for safety, and also destroyed some private 
property and returned to the town, and 'Major Craig 
immediately fortified the garrison. The militia of three 
counties were then immediately ordered down to take post 
at the great bridge, and that pass was fortified by us in 
order to prevent the enemy from making excursions into 
the country. We had been there about three weeks with 
about 700 militia when Major Craig marched out upon us 
in the night with his main force and some field pieces, 
surprised and dispersed our piquet guard and displayed his 
artillery across the river upon our dirt works, but without 



14 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

any effect. The enemy, finding their attempt entirely 
fruitless, after staying and viewing us across the river for 
two days, returned in the night to Wilmington. About 
two weeks after this we received intelligence from Guilford 
County in the upper part of the State that a general 
eneaeement had ensued between Lord Cornwallis and 
General Greene ; there the conflict was long and obsti- 
nate and the victory had been in favor of the Americans 
had it not been for mis-conduct of the North Carolina 
militia, who broke and left our part of the line exposed, 
which the enemy seeing, and being about to make use of 
the advantage, General Greene ordered a retreat and 
brought off" the whole without any confusion. The enemy 
remained upon the ground. General Greene finding his 
troops still in high spirits and not so much diminished as 
might be expected, made all the necessary preparations to 
attack the enemy the next day, but was dissappointed by 
Cornwallis precipitately decamping in the night ; he car- 
ried off" some of his wounded and left about two hundred 
of his wounded at the place of .action with an officer and 
two surgeons whom he recommended to the compassion 
and humanity of the American general. Cornwallis made 
his retreat good to Wilmington and General Greene, 
after pursuing him two days v/ithout any prospect of com- 
ing up with him, turned his course and marched into 
South Carolina, where I shall leave him for the present. 
Cornwallis arrived at Wilmington, and, General Greene 
beiug gone to South Carolina, seemed to strike terror on 
our militia then at their post. General Lillington, who 
then commanded the post at the great bridge, ordered our 
retreat from that to Kinston on the Neuse River, about 
30 miles above Newbern, where, on the 28th of April, he 
discharged all the militia except one company to guard the 
artillery and stores. The militia thus discharged, we had 
not the name of an army in North Carolina. Every man 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 1 5 

was now to look to himself. The next day after being 
discharged we returned home. Cornwallis' army was then 
in the middle of our county, encamped at my brother 
Robt. Dickson's plantation. The whole country was 
struck with terror, almost every man quit his habitation 
and fled, leaving his family and property to the mercy of 
merciless enemies. Horses, cattle and sheep and every 
kind of stock were driven off from every plantation, corn 
and forage taken for the supply of the army and no com- 
pensation given, houses plundered and robbed, chests, 
trunks, etc., broke, women and children's clothes, etc., 
as well as men's wearing apparel and every kind of house- 
hold furniture taken away. The outrages were committed 
mostly by a train of loyal refugees, as they termed them- 
selves, whose business it was to follow the camps and 
under the protection of the army enrich themselves on 
the plunder they took from the distressed inhabitants who 
were not able to defend it. We were also distressed by 
another swarm of beings (not better than harpies). 
These were women who followed the army in the charac- 
ter of officers' and soldiers' wives. They were generally 
considered by the inhabitants to be more insolent than the 
soldiers. They were generally mounted on the best horses 
and side saddles, dressed in the finest and best clothes that 
could be taken from the inhabitants as the army marched 
through the country. 

Our family are all obnoxious to the enemy, although none 
of the brothers except myself have actually taken arms and 
joined the army. I will now give you some account of 
how we all fared while the enemy were in our neighbor- 
hood. My brother Robert had left his place and removed 
his family and property. The enemy encamped one day 
and night at his plantation and destroyed some of his stock 
which he had not got off. The same day my brother Joseph 
was surprised in his own house by the dragoons, but 



1 6 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

being determined would not surrender, fled into a thicket 
or swamp, and although pursued made good his escape. 
The enemy plundered his house, took all his corn, his 
horses and his wife's clothes, side-saddle, etc. The same 
day another party went to my brother James' house, and, not 
finding him at home, plundered his house of everything 
they could find in it, took off two of his slaves and all his 
corn, etc., and compelled his wife and a neighbor woman, 
who was there, to deliver them the rings off their fingers 
and the buckles off their shoes. The same day my sister's 
husband, William McGowan, was found driving some stock 
out of their way; he was made a prisoner and after being 
some time under guard was compelled to pilot their Light 
Horse to his own and several of his neighbors' houses 
where they took all the corn and forage, all the horses and 
cattle, etc., they could get. The night following they 
detained him under guard and went and plundered his 
house of everything they found in it worth carrying away, 
broke every lock, ransacked every chest and trunk, took 
away all the bedding, etc., all the apparel, even the baby's 
clothes, stripped the rings off my sister's fingers and the 
shoes and buckles off her feet, choked the children to make 
them confess if their father had not hid his money, and to 
tell where it was, etc. ; and many of the neighbors were 
treated in the same brutish manner. The day following 
the army encamped near my house. Sundry portions of 
their Light Horse called on my house, and notwithstanding 
I was not at home, they went away peaceably and took 
nothing from me, which I thought very strange, for sundry 
of my neighbors were plundered of almost everything they 
had. The enemy being destined for Virginia, made but a 
very short stay in our neighborhood, but immediately after 
they were gone came on our greatest troubles; for the Loy- 
alists, or as we term them Tories, began to assemble and 
hold councils in every part of the State, and thinking the 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 1 7 

country already conquered, because the enemy had gone 
through us without being checked, they were audacious 
enough to apprehend and take several of our principal 
leading men prisoners and carry them down to Wilming- 
ton and deliver them to the guards. There were numbers 
of our good citizens thus betrayed, perished on board pris- 
on-ship and in their power. This so alarmed the inhabi- 
tants that none of us dared to sleep in our houses or beds 
at night for fear of being surprised by those blood-suckers 
and carried oflf to certain destruction. In the meantime the 
Governor of the State, and several others of the first char- 
acter, were surprised in this manner, by some who had been 
personally acquainted with him, and carried and delivered 
to the guards in Wilmington, notwithstanding the attempt 
of sundry parties of the militia to rescue him. 

Matters being thus in confusion, there was no subordina- 
tion amongst men; but every proprietor or leading man 
raised and commanded his own little party and defended 
themselves as they could. At length we got collected about 
400 men under Colonel Kenan in Duplin, and about 200 
under Colonel Brown in Bladen, the adjacent county. 
Colonel Kenan's militia had not made a stand more than 
ten days when Major Craig inarched his main force, with 
field pieces, defeated and drove us out of our works, and 
made some of our men prisoners (here I narrowly escaped 
being taken or cut down by the dragoons). The enemy 
stayed several days in Duplin County (this being the first 
week in August, 1781). The Royalists gathered together 
very fast, and we were now reduced again to the utmost 
extremity. The enemy were now more cruel to the dis- 
tressed inhabitants than Cornwallis's army had been before. 
Some men collected and formed a little flying camp and 
moved near the enemy's lines and made frequent sallies on 
their rear flanks while others fled from their homes and 
kept out of the enemy's reach. Major Craig marched 
2 



1 8 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

from Duplin to Newbern, plundered the town, destroyed 
the public stores, and then immediately marched back to 
Wilmington to secure the garrison. 

The Loyalists or Tories in Duplin and other counties, 
now thinking the day entirely their own, became more 
insolent than ever ; but Craig having again returned to 
Wilmington the Whigs again resumed their courage and 
determined to be revenged on the Loyalists, our neighbors, 
or hazard all ; accordingly we collected about eighty light- 
horsemen and equipped them as well as we could ; marched 
straight into the neighborhood where the Tories were embod- 
ied, surprised them, they fled, our men pursued them, cut 
many of them to pieces, took several and put them instantly 
to death. This action struck such terror on the Tories in our 
county that they never attempted to embody again and 
many of them in a short time came in and submitted and 
were pardoned (I was not in this action nor any afterward 
during this whole season of the war). I never received a 
wound but one, which was a shot through my right leg, 
though I had three narrow escapes when I was in danger 
of being killed or taken. 

In Bladen County the Tories were more numerous and 
more insolent than in our county ; one McNeil, a Scotch- 
man, was made Colonel of the Loyalists, and was very ac- 
tive against the Whigs. He was one of the principal com- 
manders in carrying off" the Governor to Wilmington, but 
did not live to get there himself; for being attacked by a 
party of the militia, who attempted to rescue the prisoners, 
Colonel McNeil and several men of his party was slain, 
a'lthough none of the prisoners were retaken. Immediately 
after this a commission was sent to your friend and country- 
man, Maturine Colvill, to take command of the Loyalists in 
Bladen County, which he accepted. Some of the leading 
men of the Whig party in that county and Mr. Colvill having 
been formerly obnoxious to each other, occasioned by some 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 1 9 

dispute among themselves, and they dreading his courage 
and intrepidity and the impetuosity of his temper, which 
some of them very well knew would be fatal to some as 
soon as he came to head his troops, it was so contrived that 
he was soon taken off by a party who slew him in his own 
house the morning of the same day in which he was to 
have headed his loyal troops. He was succeeded in com- 
mand by Col. John Slingsby, who headed the troops em- 
bodied, about 400 at Bladen Court House. Colonel Brown, 
with about 150 of the Whigs, surprised him in the night, 
slew Colonel Slingsby and two of his captains and some of 
his men, and retreated without any loss, and returned in 
the morning where he found only the slain and some of the 
wounded, the rest having fled and made their escape. This 
put an end to the disturbances in Bladen County ; the To- 
ries never embodied there any more, so by this time our 
two distressed counties of Duplin and Bladen began to get 
the upper hand of their enemies. Colonel Slingsby was 
succeeded in the command of Royalists in Bladen by your 
countryman, Faithful Graham, but before he had the op- 
portunity ot doing his majesty any service he had suffered 
the fate of his predecessors had he not made his escape 
through a swamp and got into Wilmington. About this 
time, being about the middle of October, General Ruther- 
ford and General Butler, wjth 1,500 militia from the back 
counties of the State, came down to our assistance. Their 
troops began by distressing the Royalists with a view 
thereby of drawing the troops out of Wilmington to an en- 
gagement. Immediately upon their coming down we re- 
ceived the agreeable and long-expected news of Lord Corn- 
wallis and the British army being captured at York in 
Virginia, upon which our troops marched down immedi- 
ately to lay siege to the town. The same day t lat our 
troops encamped in the village of Wilmington, Major Craig 
demolished the works of the fort, spiked all the guns, de- 



20 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

stroyed all the public stores he could not carry off with 
him, got his troops on board and sailed for Charleston, and 
our troops were in possession of the town the same hour 
the enemy went out. Thus ended the war in North Caro- 
lina, and General Greene's successes in South Carolina 
during the summer campaign had by this time reduced 
that State to the obedience of their own Legislature. Every 
out-post was now driven into the principal garrison at 
Charleston, which was then the only post they held in any 
of the Southern States, where they remained until they 
were withdrawn from there by the articles of the Definitive 
Treaty. 

Thus, sir, I have amused you with a long and tedious 
relation of the war in Carolina and its effects on our fami- 
lies, but as it is in compliance with your request I hope 
the amusement will not be altogether disagreeable to you. 
I shall now give you some account of the present circum- 
stances and situation of each of our families, which I 
flatter myself will be very agreeable amusement to you. 
I shall take the family in rotation and begin with myself 
as the oldest. 

I find myself at this time in as good a situation as I was 
when the war began, but perhaps I would have been bet- 
ter ofif had the war never commenced, for during the war 
I was obliged to contract some debts for necessaries to 
support my family, and being in the service I could not 
improve my plantation nor raise anything to discharge my 
debts ; but since the war has ended I have got over all 
those diflBculties and am now in a more prosperous way 
than ever I was before. I have a very good plantation 
where I live, a good stock of cattle, etc., eight working 
slaves and some young ones growing up. I hold the 
clerk's office of Duplin County court, which I esteem as 
good as fifty pounds sterling yearly, which with my other 
industry and care of my plantation, etc., enables me to live 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 21 

very plentifully and to maintain my family in credit and 
decency. My oldest daughter Ann is about i6 years of 
age ; my oldest son, William, is a little upwards of 14 ; 
the rest of my children are James, Lewis, Fanney and 
Susana ; the youngest is about nine months old. 

Robert moved his property into the back parts of Vir- 
ginia when Cornwallis went through us and returned in 
July to move his family there also, but his wife died the 
very day of his return and left him an infant but a few 
days old, which he put to nurse and returned to Virginia 
again ; but not liking to settle there he returned home as 
soon as the enemy left Wilmington and being resettled 
again he married another wife. He is a ver)' frugal, 
industrious man, has about as many working slaves as I 
have, he lives very well and plentifully, is in as good 
credit as any man in the county, his oldest son, John, is 
about eighteen years of age, his oldest daughter, Ann, is 
about sixteen, the rest are Pearsall, Edward, Catherine 
(Mary dead) and Elizabeth, the youngest by his first wife, 
and Susana by his present wife. 

Joseph Dickson was very much distresssed and plundered 
by the enemy, first by Cornwallis and afterwards by Craig. 
He was much discouraged, had thoughts of moving away, 
went to view the waters over the western mountains, but 
did not like the country when he saw it, returned and con- 
tented himself with what little he had left to begin the 
world, as it were, anew. He has a good plantation, four or 
five slaves and some stock, he is surveyor of the county, 
which is as good as thirty pounds sterling a year, he lives 
as comfortably and decentlv as any man in the county, is 
one of the first in repute, has a fine promising family of 
young children, his oldest daughter, Anna, is about nine 
years old, the rest are Michael, Hugh, David and Moulton, 
the youngest, who is named for his wife's father. 

Alexander Dickson, upon Cornwallis' approach removed 



2 2 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

himself and property into Virginia and Maryland, and 
never returned with his property till a few days ago. He has 
a good plantation and four or five slaves and no family but 
himself. I do not know what course of life he intends to 
fix himself in since his return. 

Edward Dickson didn't suffer much by the enemy. He 
never moved from his plantation, and the enemy never 
called on him : he has nine or ten good slaves, two good 
plantations and a very fine stock of cattle : he lives very 
plentifully, is in good credit, has three children, Rebecca, 
Elizabeth and Ann, the oldest is about six years old. 

James Dickson, the youngest brother, inherits his father's 
plantation, he was very much distressed and plundered by 
the enemy, he has a very good plantation, some stock, has 
good slaves, he is a laborious industrious man, a very good 
hunter, he supports a good honest character, lives plenti- 
fully and well. His oldest son, Edward, is about nine 
years old, the rest are Elenor, Margaret, William and 
Alexander. My sister Mary is the youngest child of the 
family. She was married at eighteen years of age to Wm. 
McGowau, a very worthy man, a fine prudent husband; 
they were much distressed and plundered by the enemy 
and lost something considerable each time, but is now in a 
good way of living again ; they have a good plantation, a 
good stock, six or seven good slaves and some young ones 
growing up. They have seven sons : John, the oldest, 
William, Edward, Robert, James, Michael, and Joseph, all 
fine children. My father died on Christmas day in the year 
1774. My mother had been dead about ten months before. 
My uncle William Dickson died at his plantation in the 
back of North Carolina on New Year's day, 1775, just 
seven days after my father. I made some mention of his 
family in my former letters though I have heard nothing 
of them since the commencement of the war. 

Dear Cousin, I have much more to write to you which I 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 23 

will make the subject of my next letter, in which I pur- 
pose to entertain you with some description of this country, 
also the prospects of settling the western waters beyond 
the Appalachian mountains, etc. In the meantime I shall 
conclude this letter with my best wishes to you and your 
family, desiring also to be remembered to all my relations 
of your acquaintance who may inquire for me. My wife 
also joins me in respects to you and Mrs. Dickson. I 
remain, Dear Sir, Your Affectionate Cousin, 

W. Dickson. 
Duplin County, 30 Nov., 1784. 



SECOND LETTER. 

Dear Cousin Robert : — This is the third letter I have 
written to you since I received yours of the 12th of Sept., 
1783, by which I was informed you had written me one 
before, of the' ist of May, 1783, which never came to hand. 
About a month after I received your letter of the 12th of 
Sept., 1783, I received another from you of the 19th of 
July, 178^, which was handed me by our cousin Joseph 
Dickson from Dromore, who landed in Virginia about the 
first of October, and came to my house about the 20th of 
the same month with his wife and little son, all in good 
health. I was much rejoiced to see a friend and relation 
who could give me a particular account of the situation 
and circumstances of our friends in Ireland, whom I had 
never heard from since my father's death, which happened 
a little before the commencement of the war. I was much 
delighted with the information you gave me of the politics 
of Ireland. I much admire the spirited resolution of the 
Nation in asserting their rights and privileges as a free people. 
Nothing in my opinion can be more commendable and noble 
amongst mankind than that free, generous and undaunted. 



24 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

persevering spirit of the volunteers, determined to assert 
and maintain their own and their country's freedom, not- 
withstanding the haught\- menace of a tyrannical Prince and 
venal Parliament who had stationed a royal army in the 
heart of their country to awe them into their measures. I 
heartily wish success to the volunteers of Ireland in ever}'- 
thing that can contribute to advance and raise the dignity 
of their country. Shortly after I received your letter I 
wrote you two very long letters, in answer to yours which 
I had then received, the first I sent by way of Virginia for a 
passage, and the second I sent to Archibald Maclaine, Esq., 
in Wilmington, who got it a passage with his letters which 
he was then sending to his friends in Ireland. In these 
letters (agreeable to your request) I gave you some accounts, 
as well as I was able, of the diflferent sects of religious pro- 
fessors in this country. That the Presbyterian settlements 
were generally in the back counties on the heads of our 
rivers and were mostly, I believe, supplied with ministers, 
who were annually supported by subscriptions in their 
congregations, which I believe to be generally about as 
good as 200 pounds in our money or perhaps equal to 100 
pounds sterling. Land since the war is becoming very 
high ; a good plantation, such as a man can live comfort- 
ably on, with about three or four hundred acres of land 
and improvements and some convenient buildings, will 
cost two or three hundred pounds sterling ; but plantations 
of an inferior quality may be purchased for much less, ac- 
cording to the value of them. 

I did not give you any encouragement to come to this 
country, as Presbyterians are very thinly settled in the 
lower and middle parts of the State and mostly indifferent 
about paying and supporting a minister. I also in these 
letters gave you a particular account of the situation and 
circumstances of each of our families with the number and 
names of all their children, etc. 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 25 

I also gave you some account of the progress of the war 
in the southern states, particularly of Lord Cornwallis' 
march through our settlement, what we suffered and the 
effects his march had on our families and properties ; also 
of Major Craig, who commanded a body of troops under 
Cornwallis and garrisoned Wilmington for ten months; of 
his march through our neighborhood and what we suffered 
by his means ; the division he caused amongst us in the 
county, commonly known by the character of Whig and 
Tory. 

Our family were more fortunate than common during 
the whole course of the war, all rigid Whigs and generally 
enoraeed in the militia service, none of us or our familv 
connections lost any lives, though some of us lost consid- 
erable of our property. I never received a wound in battle 
but once, which was very slight, though I was three times 
in danger of being taken prisoner, but always had the good 
fortune to escape. I cannot boast that I ever was in any 
battle when we got the victory. 

These accounts, Dear Cousin, being mentioned at large 
in my former letters (though in a crude and unlearned style) 
should they ever come to your hand will, I make no doubt, 
be pleasing and entertaining to you, though I have some 
reason to doubt those letters ever reached you. I shall 
now, however, omit any further repetition of what I wrote 
you before, and shall now proceed as well as I can to give 
y. u some description of this country which I have not done 
in any former letters. 

As I never since my infancy traveled anywhere beyond 
the limits of the State of North Carolina except in some of 
the frontiers of South Carolina, so that I am not otherwise 
acquainted with any other state than by information. 

Carolina, from the seashore to about 120 miles back, is 
generally a low, flat, sandy, barren woodland country, and 
very thinly inhabited except along the rivers and creeks 



26 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

that run through it, many of which are navigable. The 
upper part of the country from thence to the mountains, 
which are generally about 250 miles back from the sea, is 
generally a hilly broken country and some places very 
stone}', the land generally more fertile and rich, abound- 
ing with herbage and fine pasture, pleasantly situated and 
much better watered, but not so well timbered as the low 
country. The soil of the low country is natural to Indian 
corn, potatoes, peas, indigo, and if properly managed will 
produce wheat, oats, flax and tobacco. Great quantities of 
tar, pitch and turpentine can be made here. Out swamps 
and marshy lands are natural for rice when properly culti- 
vated. The lands higher up the country are generally of 
different cast, the soil much richer and stronger, are natu- 
ral for Indian corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, flax and hemp. 
Orchards of any kind, with proper care, will thrive in any 
part of the State; the peach is natural to the climate; 
apples generally thrive better in colder climates. Stock of 
every kind, formerly when the country was new and fresh, 
would thrive in the wood with very little attention or care; 
but at present, the country being more thickly settled and 
the wild range chiefly consumed, no stock of any kind can 
be raised without great care and application. The low 
country near the sea is best for cattle and the middle 
country best for pork; the hilly country in the back coun- 
ties is best for raising horses and sheep. The richest and 
most fertile lands on this continent that have ever yet been 
discovered are said to be on the waters of the Ohio and 
Mississippi. A few years before the commencement of the 
war sundry gentlemen in Virginia and North Carolina who 
had outlived their incomes, and their affairs becoming 
somewhat desperate, went without the concurrence of gov- 
ernment and held a treaty with the western Indians and 
purchased a very large tract of country from them on the 
west of the Appalachian Mountains, extending from said 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 27 

mountains westward to the river Ohio, and bounded by 
Cumberland River on the south, and by Louisa or Ken- 
tuckey River on the north. They carried thence a great 
number of the poor inhabitants of the country and formed 
the great settlement now called the Kentuckey settlement. 
Perhaps no part of America ever settled so rapidly. In 
the time of the war they furnished their quota of men in 
every expedition, and were able to defend themselves 
against the excursion of the several nations and tribes of 
Indians who live adjacent to them, and were encouraged 
and supported, with arms and ammunition to make war 
against, by our enemies. 

The soil of this country is thought by some equal to the 
richest in the universe, and lies in the latitude of Virginia. 
The Legislature of that State, thinking it was not just that 
a few individuals should monopolize so large a territory of 
country to themselves (about the time of the conclusion of 
the war), passed an act to limit the purchasers thereof to a 
certain bound within the said purchase, which they judged 
sufficient to compensate them for their trouble and expense 
in purchasing and settling that large country, and all the 
rest of the said purchase they seized for the use of the gov- 
ernment. 

About the same time, or very soon afterwards, a settle- 
ment was founded on the waters of Tennessee River, that 
is, on Cumberland, Holstien and Nola Chuckle rivers, in 
the latitude of North Carolina, and being also a very fine 
fertile country. This settlement became so very numer- 
ous, and lying far remote from the seat of government, 
were much disconcerted, notwithstanding the Legislature 
of North Carolina had granted them counties and District 
Superior Court of law, and appointed their judges, etc. 
About the beginning of the year 1785 they revolted and 
declared themselves to be an independent State by the name 
of Franklin. They elected their Governor and Council, 



28 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

formed Constitution, established a Legislature, sent a dele- 
gate to Congress and solicited to be received as one of the 
States of the Union. What may be the consequence of 
their proceedings is yet unknown. Their delegate was not 
received at Congress, and neither Congress nor the Legis- 
lature of North Carolina have yet taken any notice of them. 

Congress have it in contemplation to form several new 
States to the westward and northward, bordering on the 
lakes and the river St. Lawrence, and on the waters of the 
Mississippi, and have laid a plan for carrying their purpose 
into effect, but the contents or particulars of that plan I 
am not able at present to acquaint you with. x\bout the 
time of the commencement of the war a very considerable 
purchase of territory was made from the Indians in Geor- 
gia, extending from the former boundary line nearer 
Augusta, on the Savannah River, to Altamaha River and 
Ockmulgee River, containing lOO miles square, and the most 
fertile part that has yet been settled in that country, but 
the war being hotter in Georgia than in any other of the 
Southern States, that country became almost quite depopu- 
lated and prevented that new purchase from being then set- 
tled, but that country is now resettling very fast, as it is 
thought, that if the peace continues, will soon become one 
of the m-ost flourishing States in the Union, as it contains 
a vast extensive frontier quite back to the river Mississippi, 
which is generally a fine level country, well watered and 
timbered, and scarcely any mountains. It lies convenient 
to the navigation of Florida and the river IMississippi, and 
in a most desirable climate between the extremes of heat 
and cold. 

Dear Cousin, I would be exceedingly glad if it suited 
your interest to come to America and live the remainder of 
your days amongst us. I think a gentleman of your char- 
acter and abilities would be very useful amongst us, 
especially to the young and rising generation, which by 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 29 

appearance is likely to be numerous in our families, and it 
is now upwards of twenty years since we have had a Pres- 
byterian minister placed in this part of the country ; but 
as vou are now far advanced in life and likely to have a 
young family, and as I understood you are very agreeably 
and happily settled where you are and in a situation where 
you can live very comfortably your life-time, I cannot 
advise you to leave your native country and come to 
America on uncertainties. 

The old Presbyterian settlement in this place is much 
reduced. The old heads of our sect are all dead, and the 
young set tho' more able to support the church are more 
luke-warm in religious principles which now becomes 
rather unfashionable. However I think a good smart 
gentleman might get a genteel maintainance here if he 
could take upon himself the fatigue of riding to two or 
three different places of meeting about twenty miles dis- 
tant from each other, but perhaps this might be too 
fatiguing for a person of your advanced age in life. 

At our last session of Assembly in this State we got an 
act passed for establishing an Academy for the education 
of youth in the Grove neighborhood in this county. This 
school is fixed in the heart of the Presbyterian settlement 
where our family all live and we have a considerable share 
in conducting it. We have purchased a piece of ground 
pleasantly situated for the purpose, on which we are now 
building a house, which we expect will be finished about 
twelve months hence. From the pleasantness and agreea- 
bleness of the situation and the country adjacent around 
it, which is generally esteemed very healthy, we have the 
greatest expectation that the success of it will be agreeable to 
our wishes. The presidency or tuition of this academy we 
think at the beginning or soon after will be as good as one 
hundred pounds sterling per annum, but no gentleman 
will be admitted to this charge unless he be of approved 



30 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

abilities and good conduct, and good sound moral charac- 
ter. We think a gentleman of the clergy might have a 
meeting house in the neighborhood and a small congrega- 
tion and superintend the academy also, having a prudent 
young gentleman as a teacher under him and might by 
that means acquire a genteel support. As no gentleman 
is yet engaged, if you were here and the acceptance of it 
agreeable to vou, I would not make the least doubt of 
your obtaining it. I think we could have the interest of 
all the trustees in your favor, but as matters may be pre- 
carious I will not advise you to come in this expectation 
unless it be your wish and desire to come to America. 
Should you not think of coming to this country yourself 
you will perhaps recommend some gentleman of known 
abilities, character and conduct who would wish to accept 
the place. I am convinced it will not be engaged in 
less time than ten months from now and perhaps longer 
time. I hint this as a matter for your consideration and 
leave yourself to determine on it. 

When our Cousin Joseph Dickson came to my house 
first he and his family wintered with me. In the spring 
of the same year he went up to Hillsborough, a small 
town about a hundred and ten miles distant from where I 
live, and kept a store for one Mr. Sampson ; sometime in 
June he moved his family from my house up there. The 
last time I heard from there he was leaching school, his 
family were all well. Last October I received your very 
affectionate letter of the 21st /Vpril last, which was sent 
me bv Rev. Alexander Patrick who soon after made me a 
visit and tarried some days with nie, in which time I con- 
tracted a small acquaintance with him. I heartily thank 
you for tiie recommendation you gave me in his lavor, 
from the good opinion I have conceived of the young man 
as well as from his apparent modesty and candor as from 
your recommendation I will pay every attention to iiis 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 31 

interest and the good success of his affairs as may be 
within the compass of my power. His brother I have 
never seen : I understood he is living with oue Mr. White 
in Bladen county. Mr. Patrick immediately on coming 
into this country got possession of one of the late Mr. 
Colvill's plantations on the N. West River and some of 
his slaves ; the plantation he has rented out and the 
negroes he has hired for wages, which rent and hire 
he tells me amount to about one hundred and thirty 
pounds per annum. About Christmas he came down to 
our neighborhood at the Grove where we made him up a 
small school of fourteen or fifteen boys which is the first 
attempt that has ever been made to teach the languages in 
this part of the country. This little school will be about 
as good as forty or fifty pounds sterling to him. Those 
now under his tuition are intended to be removed to the 
academy when opened, when it is probable Mr. Patrick 
may be employed as a teacher if he is approved of; the 
school is in the same place where the academy is fixed. 
Mr. Patrick lives with my brother Joseph and has a con- 
venient room and bed to himself. 

Amone the bovs under his tuition are mv second son, 
my brother Robert's second son and my sister's oldest son. 
]Mr. Patrick is much esteemed in the neighborhood. I 
request that you will acquaint his father that he is doing 
well. 

Dear Cousin, I cannot conclude without thanking you 
for your correspondence ; of the five letters you mention 
vou have written me I have received three, and am much 
concerned to find by your last that you received none of 
mine, thono;h I never wrote vou but two before this ; but 
they were both very long as well as this, and contained 
much of other matters. I shall, however, omit no oppor- 
tunity of writing to you, and hope you will continue 
your correspondence with me. Notwithstanding the mis- 



32 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

carriage of my letters, please let me know in your next let- 
ter if you ever received the letters I wrote you last year. 
When you write, direct to the care of Archibald Maclaine, 
Esq., Wilmington, and if not sent by a person who will see 
it delivered, direct it to be put in the Post Office of North 
Carolina. I take the opportunity of sending this letter by 
the hands of Mr. Bostwick Gillespie an acquaintance of 
mine who is going home to Ireland with his wife to see 
their friends who live in the county of Monaghan about 20 
miles from Newry where he expects to call. If you should 
see him he can give you a satisfactory account of our fami- 
lies as he is well acquainted with all of them ; he has a 
brother who lives in this country at the Grove, who ever 
since the Revolution of this State has been a member of 
the Assembly, and now is a member of the Supreme Coun- 
cil of the State. 

My brother and sister and their families are all well ; 
nothing has happened amongst us since I wrote you before; 
our families are generally young and numerous, but no 
marriage has ever yet taken place amongst any of our chil- 
dren though some are grown up. 

I shall add no more at present, but conclude with my 
best respects and compliments (in which my wife joins me) 
to you and Mrs. Dickson and little son. I remain. Dear 
Cousin, with all due respect and esteem your sincere and 
affectionate Cousin. 

Wm. Dickson. 

Duplin County, 24th Feb., 1786. 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 33 



THIRD LETTER. 



Goshen, 30th Nov., 1787, 

Duplin County, N. C. 

Dear Cousin: — Your letter of the 24th August, 1786, 
and a duplicate of the same dated the 3rd October, 1786, 
I received both together, from the post-oflSce in Wilming- 
ton, about the first of September last, and about three 
weeks ago I received your letter of the 7th August last by 
our young cousin, Hugh Dickson, from Dromore, who 
arrived at Wilmington about the first of this month, and 
came immediately to my house. The books and pam- 
phlets you sent me were a very agreeable present, and very 
acceptable to the youth of my family. I esteem it as a 
token of your affection and remembrance of us. I con- 
gratulate you upon the rising prospect of your family, but 
much regret the decline of your health as well on our 
account here as that of your own and your family's. We 
had flattered ourselves with the pleasing prospect of yet 
seeing you in this country amongst us and at the head of 
our infant seminary of learning. We are not strangers 
here to your general good character and well-known arti- 
cles in literature. This motive induced me to write to you 
in the manner I did expressing a desire that you would 
remove to Carolina and spend the remainder of your days 
amongst us, and though I could not present to your view 
anything lucrative to induce you to remove from so happy 
a climate to this wild country, I was conscious if it was 
agreeble to your inclination and suited your convenience 
otherwise to remove here, you might be very useful 
amongst us, and doubly so as a teacher and minister to the 
rising generation. 

But, my dear cousin, when I reflected on the agreeable 



34 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

situation in which Providence has placed you, wherein you 
enjoy the esteem and affection of your brethren of the 
clergy as well as that of the people under your ministry, 
the pleasant and agreeable situation of your dwelling, 
wherein you enjoy all the necessary comforts of life, added 
to the domestic pleasure of spending your latter days in the 
enjoyment of your agreeable rising family, and when I 
also consider the advanced period of life to which you have 
now attained, and the decline of health which you have 
lately experienced, together with the trouble and difficul- 
ties with which a removal to Carolina would be attended, 
and the prospect (as you justly observe) of not being per- 
haps more useful generally here than where you now are, 
I acknowledge your determination against a removal 
founded, as I think, upon principles of prudence and con- 
sideration. Our Grove Academy (as it is styled by the 
Legislature) is not in a more flourishing condition than 
when I wrote you last (altho' yet short of our expectations 
or of what you wish it to be), the house is now finished, the 
school was removed into it last week, there are yet but 
twenty-five students under a master who teaches only the 
Latin and English grammar and the Latin and Greek lan- 
guages. We have no other fund for the support of it but the 
fees of the students and the benevolence of public-spirited 
gentlemen, which have as yet appeared to be very low. I 
wish I could with propriety give you a description of it 
more to your satisfaction. The Genius of the people of 
this part of the country is not adapted to the study of learn- 
ing and science. The most desirable object that people 
here have in view are interest and pleasure, but I flatter 
myself that that period will soon arrive when an emulation 
will take place amongst the youth (who are of most 
discernment) to aspire to the attainment of that which in 
the end will be most permanent and profitable, and that 
this infant institution (altho' far inferior to that erected at 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 35 

Strabane, or indeed almost any other), through the exer- 
tions of some who are concerned in it, may yet become 
profitable and rise to repute. During the course of the last 
summer a grand convention of delegates from the several 
States of America were assembled at Philadelphia. The 
only production of their councils which I have yet seen 
published is a constitution for the United States of America, 
to be submitted to the Legislature of each State for their 
approbation and concurrence, a copy or pamphlet of which, 
for amusement, I herewith enclose you. 

Our General Assemby for this State are now convened 
and have it under consideration. We hear that debate 
runs high concerning it, also the populace in the country 
are divided in their opinions concerning it. For my own 
part, I am but a shallow politician, but there are some parts 
of it I do not like; however, I expect our Legislature will 
adopt it in full. The ancient Romans when they deposed 
their King and abolished the Royal Government, so jealous 
of their liberties, would not trust the sovereign power and 
command of their armies to one consul only, but for the 
better security of the Republic had always two consuls 
with equal powers, whence it could scarcely be supposed 
that one could lay any plan to usurp or subvert the govern- 
ment without being opposed or rivaled by his colleague. 
Those consuls were amicably elected and were not eligible 
to be elected the ensuing year. Yet, notwithstanding all 
their precautions, both Sylla and Caesar, each in their turn, 
found ways and means through the powers they had to hew 
their way through blood to the throne. How much easier 
may it be for a President of the United States to establish 
himself on a throne here, invested with sovereign power 
for a term of four years at once and eligible to the same 
again at the expiration of that term; invested with the sole 
command of all our armies and no rival to circumvent him. 
I conceive the wav is in a manner laid open and plain 



36 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

before him, should his ambitions inspire him to aim at sov- 
ereign power. However, the constitution of an empire is 
too deep and extensive for my comprehension, therefore it 
does not become me to cavil with it. 

My dear Cousin, from the purport of your last letter I am 
now divested of all hopes or expectation of ever seeing you 
on this side of Time. I shall therefore the more earnestly 
request you will continue a correspondence with me by let- 
ter. Your letters are all very acceptable, agreeable and en- 
tertaining to me. I regret my own defect that I have not 
a liberal education so as to enable me to correspond on equal 
terms with those who possess these advantages, nevertheless 
you may be assured I will cheerfully embrace all opportu- 
nities of answering your letters and communicating to you 
(in such a manner as I can) anything that may occur here 
which I think may be amusing or entertaining to you. I 
am much indebted to you for the relation you gave me of 
our friends about Dromore and Two Mile Mill. My family 
and brothers and sisters and their families are all well. On 
the first day of this month Robert's daughter Ann was mar- 
ried to a Mr. Bryan a widower about 36 years of age : he 
has had two children. He is a man of unblemished char- 
acter and possessed of considerable property. She is his 
fourth wife, it is a match very agreeable to herself and all 
her friends, and is the first and only marriage that has yet 
taken place amongst all my Father's grandchildren. 

My wife joins me in respects to Mrs. Dickson and all 
your family. I remain Dear Cousin with respect and all 
due esteem your sincere friend and 
Affectionate Kinsman 

Wm. Dickson. 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. T,"] 

FOURTH LETTER. 

(Copied from Fayelteville Examiner.) 

A female friend has placed in our hands a letter found 
among her family papers and written by her collateral an- 
cestor, Wm. Dickson of Duplin County, to his cousin, Rev. 
Robt. Dickson, a Presbyterian clergyman, living near Nar- 
row Water, Newry, in Ireland. 

The letter is dated, "Goshen, 28th December, 1790," 
and is interesting on account of its presenting the views of 
a very intelligent and observant man of the time on subjects 
of public importance. It is closely written, and fills six 
pages of foolscap paper, much of the space being devoted 
to family matters. The records of the Dickson family carry 
us back to 1608. William Dickson was a native of Ireland, 
county of Down, and in faith a Presbyterian. He was a 
descendant of Simon Dickson (probably his great-grandson) 
who was an English Puritan and an officer of Cromwell's 
Army. William Dickson came to North Carolina before 
the war of the Revolution and was a very prominent citi- 
zen of Duplin County. He filled many positions of high 
trust, being one of the representatives of Duplin County in 
the conventions which were held at Newbern in 1774 and 
at Halifax in 1775. He was also a member of the conven- 
tion at Halifax in 1776 which formed the first constitution 
for the State of North Carolina. The following extract is 
taken from the body of the letter we have spoken of: 

"I am much indebted to you for the pains you have 
taken in considering and giving me your opinion of the 
general plan of our Federal government. I will readily 
agree with you that a better could not be formed for the 
United States in general. I think that it is formed so as 
to lay the foundation of one of the greatest empires now in 
the world, and from the high opinion I have of the illus- 



38 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

trious characters who now hold the reins of government, I 
have no fear of any revolution taking place in my day. 
Since I wrote to you on the subject I have become recon- 
ciled to it. 1 was convinced of the propriety as well as the 
necessity of yielding up some of the privileges we enjoy as 
freemen for the sake of a more permanent and efficient 
government, but I believe that the State of North Carolina 
would not have adopted the government of the United 
States for this principle only. It was a matter of necessity 
rather than choice when the convention of North Carolina 
received it about twelve months ago, we being the last 
state except one (Rhode Island) which came into the meas- 
ure. Virginia, though with much reluctance, and the other 
states around us having previously adopted the federal plan, 
the state of North Carolina could uot remain independent 
of the union and support the dignity of a state itself. Had 
Virginia only stood out with us, I think North Carolina 
would not have been in the union yet. It appears to me that 
the Southern States will not receive equal benefit in the gov- 
ernment with the Northern States. The interest, manners 
and customs and trade will be more united and by being 
more numerous and more powerful will form the laws of 
the General Government more to their own advantage and 
convenience. 

The Southern States will have their vote but will not be 
able to carry any point against so powerful a party in cases 
where either general or local interests are the object. 
Some attempts which were made in the course of the last 
session of Congress have much alarmed the Southern 
people. The most strenuous exertions were made by some 
of the Northern representatives to liberate and emancipate 
the slaves in the United States, and though they did not 
carry their point they seem determined never to drop the 
matter until they do. This, if effected, will be arbitrary, 
cruel and unjust. The people in the Southern States who 



THE DICKSON LETTERS. 39 

have any property hold it mostly in land and negroes, and 
if divested of their negroes their lands will become useless 
or rather burdensome to them. They will not be able to cul- 
tivate or pay the taxes on them and the most opulent and 
considerable families would in a short time be reduced to 
indigence and extreme poverty." 



FIFTH LETTER. 

Goshen, 13th March, 181 8. 

My Dear Linda: — Your kind letter of 7th. January 
last came to hand in due time, tho' I have not answered it 
until now. We all rejoice to hear that yon enjoy good 
health, but lament to hear that your sister Johnston has 
not been so well. 

Myself and your sister Nancy are well at present. I 
have lately heard from your mother and other friends ; 
they are also well. 

It is with pleasure I hear you are now at school under 
the tuition of a ladv under whose instruction you expect to 
make useful improvements. My dear Linda, you have 
now arrived at that period of life when the mind is capable 
of receiving useful instruction and improvement thereby, 
and I have not any doubt but you will be attentive and 
make the best use of your time to acquire as much useful 
knowledge as possible. To improve the faculties of the 
mind is much more ornamental to any person than dress 
and outward show. The one will continue for life, the 
other will vanish with the times. In two or three years 
more you will appear upon the theatre of the world, ex- 
posed to the view and criticism of all manner and ranks of 
people, when it will be prudent so to conduct yourself with 
propriety so as to gain the applause and good opinion of 
the most virtuous and respectable class of our fellow citi- 



40 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 

zens. This I make no doubt will be your pride and 
ambition to obtain. Nature has done a good part for you 
in the formation of your personal graces, and intellects 
of the mind, and your mother, as far as in her power has 
given you opportunities for improving them, which I sin- 
cerely hope and believe you will. 

I expect you frequently receive letters from your mother 
and other friends by which you have information of the 
times in this place, some deaths and some marriages have 
lately occurred which perhaps you have not yet heard of. 
About two months ago old Mrs. Beck of this place died, 
and about a month ago Mr. Andrew Mclntire at the Court 
House died ; his complaint was the dropsy, which had 
afflicted him upwards of six months. Your Cousin Joseph 
Dickson is no better yet than when you went from here, 
he continues in the same condition. 

Last Tuesday the loth inst. was married Mr. Allen 
Whitfield of Wayne County to Miss Mary Sloan, daughter 
of Gibson Sloan, of this county ; and yesterday evening 
Mr. John Whitfield of Lenoir County to Miss Carolina 
Wright, daughter of Thomas Wright of this County. 

Your brother James is well ; he continues to live with us 
and goes to school daily. 

Your sister, Dolly Maxwell, has a daughter Susan Ann. 
Nancy Pearsall has a daughter named Linda. 

I have nothing worth communicating that will be of 
any amusement to you. Your sister Nancy joins me in 
love to yourself and respects to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, etc. 
I remain Dear Linda with due affection 

Your Uncle, Wivi. Dickson. 

Miss Linda Dickson. 

N. B. I here enclose you a lock of my hair, and Nancy 
sends you a lock of your Father's hair. They are tied 
tog-ether. Your Father's is the shortest. 



'& 



THE DICKSUN LETTERS. 4 1 

NOTE: 

"The Grove Academy"' referred to in the letters, was incorporated 
by the Act of 1785. Chapter 80 (Martin's Collection of Statutes), as 
follows: 

An Act to Erect and Establish an Academy in the County of 

Duplin. 

Whereas, the establishing an academy in the said County for the 
education of Youth, will be attended witli great advantages to the 
State in general and the County of Duplm in particular: 

1. Be it th«-refore enacted by the (General Assembly of Nortli Caro- 
lina, and it is iiereby enacted by the authority of the same, that 
Thomas Routledge, James Kenan. Joseph Dickson. Thomas Gray. 
William Dickson. David Dodd. John James. Israel Bordeaux and 
James Gillespie, Esquires, be and tliey are hereby constituted and 
appointed trustees with full power and authority to receive into their 
hands and possession all monies and other property which have been 
or hereafter maj" be subscribed for the purjtose of ereciing an academy 
on the lands lately purchased of Nicliolas Hunter in said Ctmnty, by 
name of Grove Academy: and the said trustees and tlieir successors 
shall be able and capable in law to ask for and demand, recfive and 
possess of the several subscribers all sums by them respectively sub- 
scribed. and in case of refusal of anj' of them to pay the same, to sue for 
and recover by action of debt or otherwise, in the name of the trustees, 
the sum which such person so lef using shall have subscribed, in any 
jurisdiction having cognizance thereof ; and the monies when collected 
and received, to be applied by the said trustees or a majority of them 
towards paj-ing for the lands already contracted for. and erecting 
thereon a suitable and convenient house, to contract with and employ a 
tutor or tutors, and to perform every act or thing that thej' or a 
majority of them shall think necessary and expedient fur the advance- 
ment of the said academy and tlie promotion of learning therein 

2 And be it further enacted by the authnrity aforesaid, tliat the 
trustees hereinbefore mentioned, shall, previous to their entering on 
the execution of the trust reposed by this Act. give b^md to tiie court of 
the County, pavable to the i hairman and his successor, in the sum of 
One Thousand Pounds specie, with condition that they shall well and 
faithfully accouit for and apply allgifts, donations, bequestsand monies 
which they may receive of and by virtue of this act for the purposes 
aforesaid 

3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if any 
of the trustees by this Act appointed shall die. refuse to act or remove 
away that he cannot attend the duties of his appointment, the remain- 
ing trustees may appoint another in his stead, who shall exercise the 
same powers as trustees appointed by this Act: and when met together 
within the said County shall have power and authority to elect and con- 
stitute one or more tutor or tutors, and a treasurer, and also to make and 
ordain such rules and regulations, not repugnant to the laws of this State, 
fur the well ordering of the students, their morals, .studies and 
academical exercises, as to them shall seem meet: and to give certifi- 
cates to such students as shall leave said academy, certifying thiir 
literary merit: in general they shall or may do all sucli things as are 
usuallv done bv bodies corporate and politic, or such as may be neces- 
sary for the promotion of learning and virtue; and the said trustees, or 
a majority of them are hereby empowered, and shall have lawful 
authority to remove the tutor or tutors, treasurer or any of them if 
thev shall find it necessary, and on tlie death, resignation or refusal 
to act of any of them, to appoint and elect others in the stead of those 
displaced, dead or refusing to act. 



42 THE DICKSON LETTERS. 



4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, tliat the trus- 
tees by this Act appointed, or a majority of them, and their successors, 
shall meet annually on the first Friday of March in each and every year, 
or at any other time they may find more convenient, and tlect a 
proper person out of their own body to preside for the term of one year, 
who may convene the trustet^s at any time he maj' find it necessary: 
Provided always that he shall give ten days previous notice of such 
meeting and that the President and Treasurer shall be chosen on the 
said first Friday of March unless in cases of unavoidable accidents. 

5 And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the 
treasurer of the said Board of Trustees shall enter into bond with 
sufficient security to the trustee'^, conditioned for the faithful discharge 
of the trust reposed in him by this Act, and that all monies and chat- 
tels that shall be in his hands, at the expiration of his office, shall be 
immediately paid into the hands of the succeeding treasurer; and 
everv treasurer shall receive all monies, donations, gifts, bequests and 
cliarities that may belong or accrue to said Academy during his office, 
and ai the expiration thereof sliall account with the trustees or a 
niHJority of them for the same, and on refusal or neglect to pay and 
deliver as aforesaid, the same mode of recovering may be had against 
him as is or may be provided for the recoverj- of money from sherififs 
or other public officers. 




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